DMR Solicitation of Public Comment Regarding Dredging of the Kennebec River Federal Navigation Project, Bath

Pursuant to 38 M.R.S. §480-D, sub-§9, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is required to provide the Maine Department of Environmental Protection with an assessment of the impacts on the fishing industry of a proposed dredging operation. The US Department of the Navy is proposing to conduct maintenance dredging of the shoaled portions of the Kennebec River Federal Navigation Project between Phippsburg and Bath, Maine.

The Navy plans to dredge approximately 60,500 cubic yards (cy) of clean sand from shoaled areas at Doubling Point, Popham Beach, and Bath Reach and place it at a previously used in-river placement area north of Bluff Head (in about 95-100 feet of water) and at a 500-yard diameter placement area located 0.4 nautical miles south of Jackknife Ledge (in about 40-50 feet of water), respectively. Approximately 35,500 cy of material will be removed from the Doubling Point area, approximately10,000 cy of material will be removed from the Popham Beach area mouth, and approximately 15,000 cy of material will be removed from the Bath Reach area. On average, the combined dredging at Doubling Point, Popham Beach, and Bath Reach takes approximately 8-11 days to complete. Historically, dredging occurs in 2-3 hour periods separated by a 1-hour transit to and from the disposal site. Dredging may occur day or night. Dredging operations are scheduled to begin in 2026 and are expected to occur periodically over ten years between December 1 and March 1.

The material is proposed to be dredged using either a hydraulic hopper dredge or a mechanical dredge. Material will be transported by scow to either the in river disposal site or Jackknife Ledge Disposal Site. The haul route from the Popham Beach dredging location to Jackknife Ledge will be the same route as previously used.

DMR will accept verbal and written comments about the potential impacts on fishing in the area to be dredged. If 5 or more persons request a public hearing prior to April 26, 2026 DMR will hold a hearing. Comments should be sent to DMR at the email or mailing address listed below by 5:00 pm, April 26, 2026.

Department of Marine Resources, Attn: Environmental Permit Review, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or email: [email protected].

Download a map of the dredge sites and placement sites (PDF file)